Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMAGPU’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDAMAGPU’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; moderate basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and large decorative type inflorescences with red to red purple-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMAGPU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMAGPU’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new large container Dahlia plants with large and attractive decorative type inflorescences.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination in September, 2013 in Hillegom, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number FET.S11.003.011, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number FET.S12.001.005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in October, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since February, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMAGPU’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMAGPU’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderate basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Large decorative type inflorescences with red to red         purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are taller than plants of the female         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller inflorescences than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are shorter than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller inflorescences than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida ‘XXL Paraiso’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘XXL Paraiso’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are decorative         types whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘XXL Paraiso’ are         semi-decorative types.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘XXL Paraiso’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘XXL Paraiso’ have bright pink-colored         ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMAGPU’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMAGPU’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were nine weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescence initiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod (long day) conditions. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMAGPU’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number FET.S11.003.011, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number FET.S12.001.005, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots; tuber             development has not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant             form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; moderate             basal branching habit with about seven primary branches             developing per plant; inflorescences held above and beyond             the foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth             habit; pinching is not required but will improve branching             habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.4             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 32.9             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 34.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 14.4 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Aspect: Primary             branches are about 10° from vertical; secondary branches,             about 40° from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 143A. Color, developed: Close to             between 143A and 144A strongly tinged with close to 200B. -   Leaf & leaflet description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and simple or compound with             three or five leaflets.         -   Length, simple leaves.—About 12.9 cm.         -   Length, compound leaves.—About 14.1 cm.         -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Width, simple leaves.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Width, compound leaves.—About 13 cm.         -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 5.4 cm.         -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape, simple leaves.—Ovate.         -   Shape, compound leaves in overall outline.—Ovate.         -   Shape, leaflets.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex, leaves and leaflets.—Apiculate.         -   Base, leaves and leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, leaves and leaflets.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Venation pattern, leaves and leaflets.—Pinnate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaves and             leaflets.—Slightly rugose, glabrous; slightly velvety;             slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaves and             leaflets.—Slightly rugose, sparsely pubescent; slightly             glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close             to 143A to slightly darker than 143A. Developing leaves and             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully expanded             leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close to between NN137A             and 147A; venation, close to 143A, proximally, tinged with             close to 200B. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 191A and 191B; venation, close to 146C to             146D.         -   Petioles, leaves and leaflets.—Length: About 3.2 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C tinged with             close to 200B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Large decorative type             inflorescences with ray and disc florets forming acropetally             on a receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond             the foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face             mostly upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit             with about 21 inflorescences develop per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Plants begin             flowering about 61 days after planting; plants flower             continuously during the autumn into the winter in The             Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About             1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 152D; towards the base,             close to 144A and towards the apex, close to 75B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 11.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 10.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.6 cm, typically             inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 120 arranged in about six whorls. Length: About 6 cm.             Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate, slightly carinate.             Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Aspect: Varying from −30° to 40° from horizontal; strongly             convex. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 53A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 64B; fading towards the margins to close to 61A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53A; fading towards             the apex to close to N74B; venation, similar to lamina             colors; apical color becoming closer to N74A with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 64B;             fading towards the margins to close to 61B; venation, close             to 70B; colors do not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 35 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about             three spiral whorls; typically inconspicuous. Length: About             1.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated;             apices, acute. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and             outer surfaces: Close to 12A; towards the base, close to             151C. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close             to 14A to 14B; towards the base, close to 151C.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About eight arranged in a single whorl. Length: About             2.5 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to             138A.         -   Ray floret bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence and             arrangement: One subtending each ray floret. Length: About             2.1 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Bluntly             acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 151D; towards the             base, close to 143B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 13 cm. Diameter,             terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 148A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color:             Close to 13A to 13B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 17A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only:             Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style             length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 154C. Stigma             diameter: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color:             Close to 17A. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits:             Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants             of the new Dahlia to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Dahlia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Dahlia plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMAGPU’ as illustrated and described. 